Addressing a press conference at Secretariat here the minister appreciated the department for better performance of collecting Rs 32,492 crore out of a target of Rs.33,965 crore for 2015-16 fiscal. He attributed the improvement in tax collection to the reforms taken by the government, use of latest technology and strengthening the informer system in the department. The officials of the department have done well and the government will implement welfare schemes on priority basis, he maintained. He expressed hope that the state will surpass Bihar state in collecting taxes.

Felicitating 19 officials on the occasion, he said that the department has filled up 110 posts out of 419 vacancies. The Government has asked the TSPSC to recruit the rest of the posts, he said adding that a new building will be built for the department. The commercial taxes minister also said that 14 modern check posts will be set up to strengthen the department and its functioning. He also said that steps are being taken to ensure that cinema tickets are sold online. The government has also taken a decision to provide permanent buildings for department offices in all districts. Right now some of them are working from rental buildings, he said.(NSS)